Like the others, Coleman was banned from preparing bankruptcy filings and his case was referred for possible prosecution for criminal contempt, according to the order by Chief Bankruptcy Judge Pamela Pepper that was made public Thursday.

The Journal Sentinel last year reported that non-lawyers who prepare bankruptcy filings for fees that run as high as $550 have caused numerous problems in the courts. Many of the filings are botched, often resulting in judges having to toss the cases. Sometimes preparers simply pocketed the cash and do nothing in return. Milwaukee has far more bankruptcy petition preparers than most other cities and local bankrutpcy judges have been cracking down on the preparers since last year.

Pepper's order said Coleman "engaged in false and decptive practices" by telling a woman who was filing bankrutpcy that her filing fee would be waived and that he could get her car payment lowered. The woman is "currently on the brink of losing her car," Pepper wrote.

Pepper ordered Coleman to return the $175 fee to the woman and to pay $250 to a second former client.

During a court hearing, earlier this month Coleman acknowledged knowing two other preparers who had been cited with contempt and whose cases are being reviewed for possible prosecution.

In an interview Coleman said he didn't do anything wrong and that his clients complained because they wanted their money back. "If everything is on the up and up and the system works as it should, I'll be cleared," Coleman said.

Coleman had operated a business called the Credit University, which offered a variety of financial services including bankruptcy petition preparation. He closed the business last year.

About Cary Spivak

Cary Spivak does investigative business projects and covers the casino industry. He has won numerous state and national awards.